Self-threading loom-shuttle.



PATENTBD JUNE 7, 1904.

J. H. NORTHROP. SELF THREADING LOOM SHUTTLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Illlll'llllllllllllll IIIIIUIIIIIIIIIHIIII 4M4 gm" -M w Patented June 7,1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. NORTHROP, OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COMPANY,MAINE.

OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF SELF-THREADINGLOOlVl-SHUTTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,247, dated June 7,1904.

Application filed July 24, 1903. Serial No. 166,809- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES H. NORTHROP, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Tustin, county of Orange, State of California, haveinvented an Improvement in Self- Threading Loom-Shuttles, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification, like characters on the drawings representing likeparts.

This invention relates more particularly to so-called self-threadingshuttles, wherein the threading operation is performed automaticallywhen a fresh filling-carrier is inserted in the shuttle, such a shuttlebeing used in a loom such as forms the subject-matter of United StatesPatent N 0. 529,940.

One of the objects of my invention is the production in a self-threadingshuttle of novel means for maintaining a substantially uniform andconstant tension or drag upon the thread during weaving.

The various novel features will be fully described in the subjoinedspecification, and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure 1 is a top or plan view, centrally broken out, of aself-threading shuttle embodying one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the delivery end thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof the shuttle end shown in Fig. 2, showing more clearly the manner inwhich the delivery-eye is made. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on theline at I, Fig. 1, 7

looking toward the left. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of thethread-guide detached, and Fig. 6 is a similar view of the tensiondevice.

I have herein shownthe shuttle-body A as having an elongated opening -Aextended and an inclined bottom a, sloping rearwardly fromabout'theusual metal cap 2 to the threaddelivcry eye, to be described, thecutting away of such part of the shuttle-body leaving a shoulderedportion a at the back of the eye.

Between the rear or inner end of the wall a and the front end of theopening A is a tubular cup-like thread-guide 0, (shown separately inFig. 5,) fitted tightly into an appropriate socket in the shuttle-bodyand having guide-slots c and 0 in its wall diametrically opposite eachother, the slot 0 being located adjacent the wall a, Fig. 1, while theslot 0 is opposite the tip or delivery end of the filling-carrier, theshuttle-wood being cut out behind the thread-guide at (1 Figs. 1 and 4.

Referring to Figs. 4: and 5, the slot 0 is shown as having one straightside, while the other side is shaped to present a downturned hook likeguard 0 which overhangs and leaves a very narrow passage between it andthe opposite side of the slot. This narrow passage is thethread-entrance, and the hooked guard prevents the thread from whippingor throwing out ofthe slot after it has once been drawn thereinto. Fromthe slot 0 the thread crosses the tubular guide 0 to the slot 0', beingengaged between the slots by the tension device, to be described, thethread guide forming a part of the threading means. The shoulderedportion a of the shuttle-body has secured to it a metallic plate, shapedand bent peculiarly, it having a long substantially triangular portion(Z, which may be termed the head, secured to the top ofthe part (L as bypins or rivets 5, Fig. 1. One point of the head is extended nearly tothe wall a, to form a beak (V, the plate being bent down at d over thefront of the part (0 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The shuttle-body is drilled or bored transversely at the base of theshouldered part a from the side of the body inward to the wall a, andinto such transverse opening is inserted the part of the plate whichforms the delivery-eye.

By reference to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the part (Z istriangular, its lower edge 6 and the longitudinal edge 7 (shown only inFig. 1) acting to guide the thread (after it has been drawn under thebeak (Z down to the delivery-eye. To form the latter, the part of theplate below the edge 6 is bent to form a partial tube (Z fitting tightlyin the transverselybored part of the shuttle-body referred to. Theextremity of the plate is tapered, as at (Z and it is turned down toenter a hole 8 in the part d, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) its tip pointingdownward and leaving a clearance between itself and the edge of the hole8 for the thread to pass and enter the tube or delivery-eye (Z butpreventing the escape of the thread after it has entered the eye. Thistapered strip (Z thus forms a guard for the delivery-eye, as will bereadily understood.

In the threading operation the thread as it draws off thefilling-carrier B enters the slots of the guide 0 and is drawn along thewall (a and beneath the beak (V, the shuttle moving to the right,viewing Fig. 1, or away from the battery. On the next shot of theshuttle the thread is guided by the edges 6 an d 7 down from the beakand around the tip or guard (Z into the eye (Z the threading operationthen being completed, and thereafter the thread draws over the roundededge 10 of the plate and through the eye. The thread cannot escape fromthe latter because the guard is hooded in the opening 8, and it cannotescape or be thrown out of the slot 0 because of the overhanging guard ctherein.

1 will now describe the tension device, which is located between theguide-slots referred to and which automatically imparts a drag ortension to the thread and maintains it during the weaving. The bottom ofthe guide 0 has a hole 0*, Figs. 4: and 5, registering with an uprighthole a in the shuttle-body, and into this latter hole is screwed athreaded stud f, having a circular head f, which fits in the guide andis rotatable therein, the head having upturned members f thereonseparated by a deep groove or channel 7. (See Fig. 6.) As clearly shownin Fig. 6, the upright members or lugs f are convexed on their outerfaces to fit easily within the thread-guide c, and the two side walls ofthe groove or channel f are formed by the opposed inner faces of the twomembersf. The tops of the latter are flared, as at to widen and form aneasy entrance to the groove, the bottom of the latter being very nearlyon a level with the bottoms of the guide-slots c c of the threadguidewhen the parts are assembled.

Viewing Fig. 1, it will be manifest that if the groovef is in alinementwith the guideslots it will not oppose the passage of the thread; but ifthe stud f be turned to set the groove at an angle to a straight linebetween the slots the thread will be deflected from its direct path andwill draw through the groove f5 and over two upright edges of themembers f, as shown in Fig. 1. The greater the angle the greater will bethe deflection of the thread, and consequently the greater will be thedrag or tension imparted to the thread, and it will be substantiallyuniform and constant during weaving.

When the thread 6, Fig. 1, is drawn into the slots 0 c in the threadingoperation, it is automatically directed into the groove or channel f bythe flaring tops f of the members as will be manifest.

By threading the stud f it is held in place in the shuttle-body and thethreadguide 0, and it can be turned to increase or decrease the tensionby inserting the end of a screwdriver or similar tool into the groove fThe construction is simple, strong, and durable. It effectively appliesthe desired tension to the thread and maintains it when applied.

While I have shown a'partieular form of threading means herein inconnection with the tension device, the use of the latter is notrestricted thereto, for it can be employed in connection with otherforms of threading means with but slight alteration in the latter.

It is to be noted that not only does the tension device impart therequisite drag to the thread, but it also prevents any very large bunchon the filling from passing through the shuttle and entering into thecloth, and it also prevents the well-known and objectionable fault ofdouble filling.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in a shuttle of means to automatically thread thesame, and separate means to effect automatically and maintain adeflection of the thread from a direct line in its passage through thethreading means, to thereby maintain a substantially uniform tensionupon the thread during weaving.

2-. The combination in a shuttle of means to automatically thread thesame, and adjustable means to effect automatically and maintain adeflection of the thread from a direct line in its passage through thethreading means, to thereby maintain a substantially uniform tensionupon the thread during weaving.

3. The combination in a shuttle of means to automatically thread thesame, and an angularly-movable device located in the path of the threadthrough said means, to automatically engage and deflect the thread andthereby impart and maintain substantially uniform tension thereuponduring weaving.

4. An automatically-self-threading shuttle comprising threading meanshaving guideslots for the thread, in combination with a tension devicehaving two relatively fixed and opposed faces to receive the threadbetween them and arranged to deflect the thread and exert asubstantially uniform drag or tension thereupon.

5. An automatically-self-threading shuttle comprising threading meansprovided with a thrrad-passage, in combination with a tension devicehaving two opposed and parallel faces to receive the thread betweenthem, and located at an angle to the path of the thread through thethread-passage.

6. An automatically-self-threading shuttle comprising a slottedthread-guide, in combination with a tension device consisting of twoopposed and relatively fixed parts supported by said guide and havingflared tops and arranged to deflect and to direct the thread into thegroove or channel between them.

.7. An automatically-self-threading shuttle comprising a slottedthread-guide, in combination with a tension device consisting of a studhaving a head provided with a threadreceiving groove or channel androtatably supported by said guide, the angularity of the groove withrelation to a direct line between the slots of the guide determining thedrag to which the thread is subjected in its passage through the grooveof the stud.

8. An automaticallyselfthreading loom- 1 shuttle having a sidedelivery-eye and an opening to receive a filling-carrier, means locatedbetween said opening and the eye to automaticallydirect the thread intothe deliveryeye, and a tension device, including opposed members locatedat an angle to and to act upon the thread as it passes between them tothe eye, to exert a drag or tension upon the thread.

9. The combination in a shuttle, of means to automatically thread thesame, and a rotatably mounted tension device having a groove or channelto receive and deflect the thread from its direct path.

10. In a loom-shuttle, automatic threading means, including a circularthread-guide having a thread-receiving slot, a guard therefor,

and a diametrically opposite guide-slot, combined with a tension devicemounted within the guide and adapted to impart and maintain a drag uponthe thread during weaving.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES H. NORTHROP.

Vitnesses:

VICTOR MONTGOMERY, E. E. KEEOH.

